Gap Analysis Assignment: Business Model of Storey Energy

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Case Study: Storey Energy
Introduction
Occupational Health and Safety are integral to an organization, regardless of its nature of business. These measures enhance the work productivity of employees, create a sense of job satisfaction and security. It also poses a positive influence on the absenteeism and turnover of the employees by ensuring a clean, secure and healthy work environment for all employees. Furthermore, new employees feel welcomes in a clean and safe environment which gives an overall professional outlook. More importantly, organizational health and safety measures contribute to the alignment between employees’ personal and professional goals, decreasing the burden on the finances of the company. There are lesser insurance claims and the most important capital of the organization – the human resource can provide uninterrupted service to the organization. A critical assessment of this case study reveals the fact that negligence in the health and safety concerns can lead to adverse consequences, including but not limited to lower customer retention, negative publicity, and an increasing number of injuries.
Personal Attributes of George Storey
George Storey has real leadership qualities and a strong leader’s mindset, regardless of his autocratic style of leadership. Still, his employees, and especially the contract employees did not give much importance to George’s priorities.
Not only did he value health and safety concerns, but also understood the fact that his human resource were the key drivers of his organization’s engine of success. One evidence is that he also had empathy towards his employees. He did not want to lose his reputation or cause harm to the real assets of his organization, his employees. Plus, he always encouraged change and left job Shaw Pipe Coatings for the lack of advancement and tech practices there.
Business Model of Storey Energy
The business, as its products can be examined, had a diverse portfolio. Firstly, the firm had two divisions, performing entirely versatile functions – manufactured products and services. George Storey understood that technology has become the life-blood of organizations and a cornerstone of organizational success (Kew and Stredwick 52). The firm also sold software and remained on edge as compared to their competitors. The firm has a unique business model, which provides real-time services by maintaining a database and contact with engineers, technicians, mechanics and welders.
Gap Analysis
Gap analysis also referred to as a needs assessment or need-gap analysis, is a model used to analyze the difference between the present state of an organization and its target state (Austin et. al. 14). This target state could have different parameters. For example, if a company anticipates a certain profit figure and compares the budgeted income with the actual, and makes measures to ‘minimize’ the gap, it is said to apply the gap analysis.
Application of Gap Analysis to the Case. Gap analysis tends to be the most suitable model for implementation on Storey Energy’s safety management system (Skibniewski 248). Currently, organizations like WHO are also using this technique during their research programs because of its effectiveness leading to practical control and improvement (World Health Organization 3). The owner of the firm has a target in his mind. One of the guiding visionary factors was a safer and healthier environment but the gaps and challenges could not be easily identified because no employees were ready to make any confessions or report any minor or major incidents. Nobody wanted to be a part of the blame game. Based on the progress of the case so far, the following gap analysis report is presented.
Factor

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No

1 Is there a safety policy in the organization?


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Comments: There was no official policy in the organization. So, it was a part of Kosir’s proposal to be discussed in the formal presentation.

2 Did the safety policy/measures reflect top management’s commitment to health and safety practices?

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Comments: Yes. Though there was no official policy, the owner had his close concerns related to health and safety.

3 Has the responsible executive endorsed and communicated the policy to the staff?


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Comments: Owner, George Storey has approved the proposal. He is, however, still sceptical about the implementation and fair results of the policy. The responsible executive, Mr. Kosir, finds it necessary to implement the policy, as proposed and so, is to communicate the same in the presentation.

4 Is there a safety committee to address all safety concerns and stay accountable for all the health and safety matters?


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Comments: There is no formal committee as yet to look into the safety matters. Employees themselves don’t want to take a charge of it and the current proposal does not advice any such measure.

5 Has any full-time personnel been made responsible or incharge of the duty?


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Comments: Currently, there is no such personnel. However, after the implementation of safety policy and plan, personnel will officially be delegated the responsibility to look into the safety measure, conduct safety management system audits and suggests remedial improvements (Li and Guldenmund 95).

6 Does the owner/head delegate responsibilities relate to SMS?


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Comments: The head has not made any such measure as yet. However, has appointed a graduate from a reputable university to look into the occupational health and safety of the organization.

7 Do the employees feel accountable for any occupational mishaps at the sites?


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Comments: No employees want to take the blame. They do not report incidents.



8 Does the organization have a holistic approach, model or audit system for safety management?


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Comments: The organization doesn’t even conduct a conventional five-star rating audit. However, it has planned to implement the popular plan-do-check-act model under the total quality management system (Alvarez-Santos 138).

9 Is technological advancement put to optimum use for health and safety in the organization?


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Comments: Since no facts related to technology are mentioned in the case file, it can be assumed that no technological intervention has yet been made for better implementation of health and safety management system.

10 Are employees provided with basic safety equipment to avoid mishaps? (Fewings and Christian)

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Comments: They are provided with masks to prevent gaseous materials from entering their respiratory passages. Also, they are provided with earplugs and glasses at the fields to avoid damage to their hearing or vision. Further, they are allowed to take any steps they deem necessary for their personal health and safety.

Major Issues
The gap analysis report reflects the need for certain safety measures in the organization. Important issues and negligence on the management’s part have contributed to these issues.
Star Rating Audit. Storey Energy did not implement a conventional five-star rating system to audit its occupational health and safety management systems. The mentioned model examines the safety management systems based on six factors: leadership, employee and stakeholder engagement, wellbeing, risk management, improvement and health and safety culture (British Safety Council). Based on the facts mentioned in the case, it can be commented that out of these six factors, three instrumental factors were missing in the safety management systems of Storey Energy. George Storey, as mentioned earlier, had concerns related to health and safety for his employees as their leader, and is the most important stakeholder, he also attended a considerable number of meetings (85%) with the subject of safety management. Missing factors were:
1 Health and Safety Culture: despite the head’s established interest in the subject, employees did not value the concern and only attended the meetings for the sake of their financial and other on-the-job benefits.
2 Risk Management: Because this system was not implemented, it can be assumed that the risk assessment, management and mitigation systems did not operate. This factor was not given enough priority. Risk until and unless assessed, cannot be avoided or transferred.
3 Improvement: improvement can only be made if there is an established culture of change, where risks are identified. Identification of areas which need improvement is actually the first step towards making improvements.
Absence of Formal OHS Training Practices. The case study shows that the formal training practices like evacuation, vacate drills, alarm drills etc. are not conducted. Whereas, there is a considerable need for such practices in this organization because of the nature of its operations. The need itself and the extent of these needs have both been neglected.
Components of the Safety Management System. The important components of the safety management system are missing in Storey Energy. The SMS comprises a proper safety plan, which is supported by the company’s policy. Based on that policy and plan, some personnel is held accountable, is delegated responsibility and is questionable on the grounds if such safety plans are compromised (Konjin et. al.). This personnel holds training and practices, whether in-house or outsourced and ...